Kerala is the right place for a start to India’s Blue Revolution, Union Minister for Agriculture Radha Mohan Singh has said.
He said issues related to the makeover of the fisheries sector would be discussed before the next Union Budget. He was speaking at the inauguration of the three-day Global Agro Meet and exhibition of organic produce and products, BIOFACH India 2014, at Karukutty, near Angamaly on Thursday.
The Blue Revolution envisages transformation of the fisheries sector, chiefly marine fisheries, and the Union government had appointed a committee to review India’s marine fisheries policy.
Mr. Singh said the panel, headed by B. Meenakumari, had submitted its report and the report was now open for discussions.
He called on stakeholders to submit their opinions and suggestions on the report. He said the report’s suggestions had not been implemented.
The report had come under serious criticism from the fisheries industry in the country.
Mr. Singh said funds had been allotted for the development of several fishing jetties in Kerala and emphasized the government’s concern for the fishermen community.
He called for the induction of new technology into agriculture because land available for cultivation could not be expanded.
He highlighted the danger posed by climate change and its impact on agriculture and reiterated the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government’s commitment to provide soil health card to all farmers in the country in three years and to have mobile soil testing laboratories across the country.
The Minister said development of cold chains and improvement of kisan mandis were needed to free the commoner from price fluctuations and to ensure remunerative prices for farmers.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy presided at the inauguration.
He highlighted the United Democratic Front (UDF) government’s efforts to revive the flagging fortunes of agriculture in Kerala.
Neera tapping, formation of an agricultural work force and drawing more young people into farms were key areas on which the government was working, he said.
Minister for Agriculture K.P. Mohanan welcomed the gathering. Industries Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty; Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob; Fisheries Minister K. Babu; the Netherlands ambassador Alphonsus Stoelinga and Innocent, MP were among those who spoke.
